On a Mission: Martin Schulz Heads to the Paralympics to Defend His Title

Paris, France, August 27, 2024 - German para triathlete Martin Schulz is gearing up to defend his Paralympic title as he competes in the para triathlon at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Having already secured gold medals in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021, Schulz is on a mission to make it three in a row.

Born without his left forearm, Schulz’s journey into sports began with swimming, a pursuit encouraged by his family. He displayed exceptional talent in the pool and was selected to represent Germany as a swimmer at the 2012 Paralympic Games. However, despite his potential, his Paralympic debut in London was not as successful as he had hoped.

Undeterred, Schulz shifted his focus from swimming to para triathlon when it was announced that the sport would debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. His interest in triathlon began at age 14 when he accompanied his uncle to watch a race. Instead of just observing, Schulz decided to participate—and won his age group despite having subpar equipment and the absence of his left forearm.

From those humble beginnings, Schulz rose through the ranks of para triathlon, becoming one of the sport's most decorated athletes. His accolades include six World Championship titles and 11 European Championship titles. His crowning achievement, however, came in Rio, where he won the inaugural Paralympic para triathlon event—a victory he successfully repeated in Tokyo five years later. His triumph in Tokyo also marked a historic moment for On, as he secured the Swiss sportswear brand’s first-ever Paralympic medal.

On September 1, Schulz will compete in the PTS5 classification at the Paris Paralympics. Athletes in this category have varying degrees of impairment, including a mild impact on one leg, moderate impairment in both forearms, significant impairment in one foot and ankle, or limb absence. To defend his title, Schulz must conquer a 750m swim, 20km cycle, and 5km run faster than his competitors.

Maria Ortega, Athlete Manager for Triathlon at On, looked towards Paris optimistically:

“Martin has had a great season so far, and we’re looking forward to cheering him on in Paris. He’s proven time and time again that he is one of the best para triathletes in history, and hopefully, he can add another Paralympic medal to his already incredible successes.”

About On

On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.

On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.